Five for Friday

Two more weeks of school left! The best part is, they are only four days each. But I am still jealous of everyone that is already on vacation. Then again, I am working on creating assessments during the month of June...but it will still be less work and more free time to look forward to.

We continued our ABC countdown this week with N (No Homework), O (Outdoor Lessons), P (Pajama Day), Q (Treat Your Teacher Like a Queen), and R (Relax and Read). The students most looked forward to no homework day. For outdoor lesson day, one of my coworkers typed up questions for the story we were reading from our basal about space. I laminated them and attached them to the fence all around the playground so the classes could go out, find the questions, and look for the answers. I'm not sure how much work they really got done, but it was a lot of fun!

My students started their end of year memory books this week. I purchased Joanne's book from Head Over Heels for Teaching. I needed a cheap and easy way to bind them, so I just went with holes and yarn, but they actually seem to be holding up pretty well. We have just been working on them a little bit each day and will continue next week. For whatever reason, their favorite page is the "Doodle Page." I'll have to take some pictures of what they have going on there. Mostly a lot of Angry Birds...

All of my students' graded assignments have been completed! We are required to get so many grades. We need at least ten for each subject area every six week marking period. With the end of school nearing, I had to finish them in four weeks because each day that goes by they put in less and less effort. My kids still think they have a spelling test next week, but I don't really plan on giving it. I despise having to give my second graders number grades.

Packing...Since my school is so big (10-15 teachers per grade level) and under construction, this has been a huge deal. Basically, every single teacher is moving classrooms, so we have to pack and label EVERYTHING for whomever they hired to move it this summer. This week has been all about collecting boxes and getting answers as to what to do with our stuff. Tomorrow I am heading in for a full day to get started with the packing.

We finished our Alliterainbow poems, which brings me to a quick tip. See the back wall in the picture? The entire thing is cement. Nothing sticks to it. Tape falls off, etc. But hot glue works perfectly. That's why I have those genre posters up there permanently. But I also simply hot glued clothespins (with a star glued on top) scattered around the entire wall. That way I can easily change out student work and my wall doesn't look as ugly as it really is! Click on the image below to join Jean (Diving into Second Grade) and Angela's (Hippo Hooray for Second Grade) Thursday Quick Tip linky.

Your memory books look great!! I used to teach near Houston, too! Actually I taught IN Houston for two years, then I taught in Katy for a year before we moved to Fort Worth. I found your blog through Doodle Bugs!AmandaMrs. Richardson's Class

Really enjoyed reading your post for this week! So much fun and excitement in the days toward the end of the year. Love your "assistant"! I have three of my own. :0) Although, they are really not much for assisting...

About Me

I'm Jessica, a former 1st and 2nd grade teacher turned stay at home mom to the cutest little girl in the world. She loves all things books just like her mommy. I have a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and hope to be a reading specialist one day.